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A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor, a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Dixon named vice president for multicultural affairs

By Matthew Winston

Spectrum Volume 20 Issue 32 - June 4, 1998

President Paul Torgersen has appointed Benjamin Dixon as the university's vice
president for multicultural affairs. Dixon will become the first person to fill
this position, which was created last October by Torgersen.
"I am extremely pleased that Ben Dixon will join the Virginia Tech community
and pull together these important efforts to enhance the diversity at this
university," Torgersen said. "He has a record as an active, visible, and
successful consensus-builder in addressing diversity and equity issues. He is
highly regarded for the leadership, commitment, wisdom, skill and creativity
that he brings to the challenging situations and issues."
Dixon will leave his post as deputy commissioner for education, for the state
of Connecticut, which he has held since 1992. There he has been in charge of
special grant projects such as the Connecticut School Improvement Initiative,
where he managed $7.4 million in federal grants, for more than 120 school
districts. He also oversaw the state's Youth Service Bureaus, a $2.8-million
state grant program, which provided funds, counseling, and advocacy support
services to youths involved in the juvenile-justice system. Dixon also served
on several state boards and commissions, including the state's Equity Unity
commission.
Dixon is also serving as interim superintendent of the Hartford School System
in Connecticut.
Dixon has experience in a variety of arenas, including higher education, K-12
education, corporate management and profit and non-profit groups. He served
three years as director of workforce diversity and director of special projects
with the Travelers Companies in Hartford, Conn., and 12 years of increasing
administrative responsibility in public education in the state of
Connecticut.
At the Travelers Companies, Dixon was responsible for developing and providing
technical assistance and coordination for diversity and equal-opportunity
activities. He also provided staff support to the company's Corporate Workforce
Diversity Committee.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have an individual of Dr. Dixon's calibre and
with his experience to come to Virginia Tech," said Bob Bates, dean of the
College of Arts of Sciences, who served as chair of the Search Committee for
the vice president's position. "The Search Committee truly met the challenge of
bringing such a talented candidate to campus."
"In talking to Dr. Dixon's colleagues," Bates said, "we have found that he
earned the highest regard of everyone with whom we spoke and is known as a warm
and compassionate person, genuinely concerned about the welfare and diversity
of all people."
In 1962 Dixon earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Howard
University, College of Fine Arts, Washington, D.C.; a master's degree in 1963
from Harvard University; and an Ed.D. in 1977 from the University of
Massachusetts, where he was the holder of a Ford Fellowship.
Dixon will assume his post at Virginia Tech August 17.